The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

Parly should show leadership on migration

Australia's peak business lobby is urging politicians to show leadership in the wake of a union scare campaign about migrants taking jobs.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry director Jenny Lambert, who will give evidence on Friday before a Senate inquiry hearing into the temporary work visa program, has seized on a union campaign against the China free trade deal.

"When it comes to (the deal), members of this parliament should sing from the rooftops about the benefits of trade and a strong relationship with our most important trading partner," Ms Lambert will say in her opening statement.